1.    The Metric System of weights and measures has been legalized in the United States. Its fundamental unit is the meter, from which all the other units of the system are derived. The meter is equal to 30.37 + inches.

2.    The meter is defined as the ten-millionth part of the distance from the Equator to the North Pole, measured on the meridian passing through Paris. Later measurements have shown that the meter does not exactly correspond with the length required by the definition.

3.    The principal point of superiority of the metric measures is in their decimal scale. As in the case of United States money, several denominations may be written together as one number. Thus, 9 Mm. 7 Km. 5 Hm. 3 Dm. 8111.4 dm. 6 cm. 5 mm. may be written as one denomination : 97538465 mm., or 9753846.5 cm., or 97538.465m., or 9 7538465 Mm., etc. Reduction ascending and reduction descending thus become a mere matter of moving the decimal point.

Metric Measures.

10 millimeters (mm.) = 1 centimeter, cm

10 centimeters = 1 decimeter, cm

10 decimeters = 1 meter, dm

10 meters = 1 dekameter, Dm

10 dekameters = 1 hektometer, Hm.

10 hektometers = 1 kilometer, Km.

10 kilometers = 1 myriameter, Mm.

Metric Square Measure.

100 sq. millemeters =    1 sq. centimeter,

100 sq. centimeters =    1 sq. decimeter,

100 sq. decimeters =    1 sq. meter,

100 sq. meters              =    1 sq. dekameter,

100 sq. dekameters =    1 sq. hektometer,

100 sq. hektometers =    1 sq. kilometer.

Note.

The principal unit is the square meter, equal to 1.196 sq. yds.

Metric Land Measure.

100 centares (ca.)         = 1 are,.......a.

100 ares                        = 1 hectare......Ha.

NOTE.

The are, equal to a square dekameter, or 100 square meters, is 119.6 square yards, very nearly. The hektare is equal to 2.471 acres.

Metric Cubic Measure.

1000 cubic millimeters = 1 cubic centimeter,

1000 cubic centimeters = 1 cubic decimeter,

1000 cubic decimeters = 1 cubic meter.

Note.

The cubic meter is equal to 35.3166 cubic feet. When used to measure wood or stone, it is called a stere (pronounced stair). Ten steres, called a dekastere, are equal to 2.759 cords.

Metric Capacity Measure.

10 milliliters {ml.) = 1 centiliter, {cl.)

10 centiliters              = 1 deciliter, (dl.)

10 deciliters                = 1 liter, (l.)

10 liters                       = 1 dekaliter, (Dl.)

10 dekaliters               = 1 hektoliter, (Hl.)

10 hektoliters             = 1 kiloliter, (Kl.)

The liter, (l.), equal to a cubic decimeter, is 61.028 cubic inches, 2.1135 pints, or 33.816 fluid ounces. The unit of measure for small quantities of liquids, as in mixing medicines and in philosophical experiments, is the milliliter, equal to 16.23 minims.

A gallon is equal to 5.785 /., and 2.8375 bush. make a Hl.

Metric Weight.

10 milligrams (mg.) = 1 centigram, (cg.)

10 centigrams             = 1 decigram, (dg.)

10 decigrams              = 1 grain, (g.)

10 grams                      = 1 dekagram, (Dg.)

10 dekagrams             = 1 hektogram, (Hg.)

10 hektograms            = 1 kilogram or kilo, Kg

1000 kilos                        = 1 tonne, (T.)

Note 1.

The gram is equal to 15.4323 grains the kilo to 2.2046 lb. avoirdupois, and the tonne to 2204.6 lb. avoirdupois. Tonne is rarely used, the number of kilos being preferable.

The weight of one cubic centimeter of pure water at its greatest density (39.20 Fahrenheit) is a gram; the weight of a cubic decimeter, or a liter, of water at the same temperature is a kilogram, or a kilo, and the weight of a cubic meter of water is a tonne.

The original 5-cent nickel weighs 5 grams, and is 2 centimeters in diameter.

Equivalents.

Metre             = 39.37 inches {3.25 ft. nearly).

Kilometre = .62138 mile (5/8 nearly). Square metre = 1.196 square yards (1 1-5 nearly). Cubic metre = 1.308 cubic yards (1 1-3 nearly). Litre               = 1 cu. dm.

= 1.0567 liquid quarts (1 nearly).

= .908 dry quart (.9 nearly). Kilogram = The weight of 1 cu. dm. of water at 29.2 Pah.

= 2.2046 pounds av. (2 1-5 nearly). Hektare          = 10,000 sq. m.

= 2.471 acres (2.5 nearly). Stere               = I cu. m.

= .2759 cord (3-11 nearly).